The battle podium lay in ruins, bearing the scars of the relentless elemental onslaught, a chaotic landscape of shattered earth and jagged spikes.
Bam! With a deafening crash, Kazumi slammed into the ground, the impact sending shockwaves through the battered battle podium.
From above, Azrael descended fast like a vengeful deity, his steel staff aimed at her with lethal intent, threatening to deliver a crushing stomp.
Summoning every ounce of her strength, Kazumi forced her battered body to move. In a fleeting moment, she managed to roll to the side.
Bam! The thunderous impact of Azrael's descending attack echoed throughout the battle arena. The dust cloud enveloped him in a shroud of chaos.
Unfortunately for Kazumi, her left hand bore the brutal impact of Azrael's onslaught. It was torn apart, a gruesome price to pay for her evasion.
Despite the excruciating pain, she summoned her resolve and stood up, putting distance between herself and Azrael.
Beneath her mask, her face twisted in a grimace of agony. The pain was excruciating, but she couldn't afford to lose this fight.
She hadn't yet secured her place in the top 50, and failure was not an option.
'Just a bit more. I'm almost there, I can't lose here,' she thought, gritting her teeth while clutching her mangled left shoulder with her right hand, which still tightly gripped her black katana.
She retreated from Azrael, and despite her injuries, she maintained her resolve and continued to navigate the battle podium, determined to endure and prevail.
The dust cloud gradually began to dissipate, revealing Azrael's figure amidst the settling haze. He stood there, exuding an eerie sense of calmness as he summoned three imperfect clones of himself into existence.
— Clone
— Clone
— Clone
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Mana Point (MP): 130/400 (-120)
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These duplicates were far from perfect, as indicated by the numerous visible black bruises on their forms.
"Go."
Azrael's voice carried a commanding authority as he gestured for the clones to pursue Kazumi.
The clones dashed out from their positions, their objective crystal clear—to bring her down through sheer force.
Kazumi weaved through the debris, utilizing the earth spikes to outmaneuver Azrael's relentless clones.
— Evasion
She used her evasion skills to dodge the majority of the clones' attacks, and she retaliated swiftly, her black katana held firmly in her remaining hand.
Each move she executed—a slash, a counter, a cut, a retreat, a strike, distancing—was calculated to fend off the three clones while maintaining her guard against Azrael, who walked slowly to her position.
As Kazumi fought with unwavering determination, her one-armed struggle became a testament to her resilience.
Her agility and combat prowess were evident as she countered the relentless barrage of attacks from all directions. The clones punched, kicked, elbowed, and kneed her, leaving a trail of bruises and pain in their wake.
In the instructor viewing area, an instructor with dark ginger hair observed the battle with concern. "This kid is ruthless; he'll be a trouble," he remarked.
Another instructor chimed in, "I prefer cadets who aren't afraid to inflict injuries on their opponent. Besides, the battle podium is equipped with an artificial healing realm, making it an ideal training ground for life and death situations." Sable, known for her assertive personality, voiced her disagreement with her peer opinion, and many instructors agreed with her.
Recognizing the futility of arguing with Sable, the instructor held his argument.
Back on the battered battle podium, Kazumi's body bore the impact of the clone's unrelenting assault.
Bruises covered her, and each breath became a struggle. Finally, the clones' time came to an end, and they vanished. Kazumi stood amidst the wreckage, her body battered and her breath ragged.
Azrael remained composed as he observed the situation from a distance, showing no sign of exertion.
Then, with chilling precision, he dashed toward Kazumi, his staff pointed menacingly at her. Azrael unleashed a series of attacks with the staff, aiming to overwhelm her.
Kazumi managed to deflect the staff attacks skillfully with her katana.
However, Azrael's movements were deceptive, and in a lightning-fast maneuver, he closed the distance between them.
"Urgh!" Kazumi grunted as she was struck in the stomach by Azrael's knee, her bones audibly snapping from the impact.
Blood oozed from her mouth as the excruciating pain seared through her body.
As Azrael continued to engage in a relentless attack against Kazumi on the battle podium, the atmosphere in the battle arena grew increasingly tense.
Luna averted her gaze, unable to watch the brutal spectacle unfolding before her. Despite Kazumi being the one who had eliminated her from the competition, she couldn't bear to see Azrael being so ruthless in his attacks against her.
His demeanor had transformed into something that frightening than she had ever seen before.
Theo, too, couldn't conceal his disapproval of how his childhood friend was handling the fight. He clenched his fists in frustration, his expression reflecting his concern and frustration.
Across the spectator seats, Yerin couldn't help but comment on the event unfolding before her. "He's too brutal," she remarked, her voice tinged with disapproval.
Leo, who sat beside her, shook his head in disbelief. "This guy," he muttered under his breath, unable to find the right words to describe the brutality of the battle.
Meanwhile, Hyunwoo remained silent, his eyes fixed on the relentless clash between Azrael and Kazumi. He understood the gravity of the situation and knew that words would do little to change the course of the battle.
On the battle podium, Azrael showed no signs of relenting.
He continued his relentless assault on Kazumi, showing no mercy on his strikes. Executing thrusts, sweeps, spins, strikes, and powerful kicks, all delivered with a ferocity that left her defending with every ounce of her being.
Despite her body bearing the brunt of Azrael's onslaught, Kazumi refused to admit defeat.
She held her ground and defended herself with unwavering determination, her resolve unshaken even as she endured the relentless assault.
The cadets in the audience couldn't help but comment on Azrael's behavior in the brutal fight.
Many of them despised him for going overboard.
"This is just too much. He's going way overboard." one cadet remarked, shaking their head.
Another chimed in. "Yeah, seriously. It's like he's trying to annihilate her."
"We were here for a fair competition, not a bloodbath."
"Yeah, it's brutal! He should ease up a bit, especially against a woman."
"Someone needs to step in and stop this madness!" exclaimed another cadet, their frustration evident.
"I don't care who you are," said yet another cadet. "you've got to fight with honor."
Many expressed their disdain for Azrael's brutal approach, feeling that he had gone too far.
Conversely, some of the cadets who had previously supported Azrael chose to remain silent, unable to justify or defend the brutality they were witnessing.
Hearing the criticisms and complaints from the other cadets, Thant Zin could no longer contain his irritation.
He stood up and raised his voice, calling them out on their hypocrisy.
"Shut up, you weaklings!" Thant Zin's voice cut through the tension in the arena.
"It's a fair fight. Man or woman, everyone is equal in this battle. She's better than any of you," he continued, his tone dripping with disdain. "She's standing there defending with all she's got, fighting with honor. And Azrael didn't go easy on her, respecting her decision. And what about all of you?!" Thant Zin's words hit like a verbal strike. "Can't even reach the top 60. You lowly hypocrites!"
Hearing Thant Zin's rebuke, many in the audience fell silent. No one dared to challenge him.
One of the main reasons for their hesitation was Thant Zin's reputation. They knew full well that he was a battle maniac.
Anyone who challenged his opinion would likely be dragged into a senseless fight that they had no chance of winning.
They chose to keep their mouths shut, not wanting to provoke him further.
Some other cadets, however, agreed with Thant Zin's opinion. They joined in, mocking their fellow cadets who had criticized Azrael's aggressive approach in the fight.
"Thant Zin's right!" one cadet declared confidently, nodding in agreement. "This is a battle, not a tea party!"
Another cadet added, "Kazumi's holding her own, and Azrael's giving it his all. What's the problem?"
"Those critics are just jealous because they can't compete at this level."
One cadet let out a chuckle. "Haha, these guys act like they know better. Let's see if any of them can do better in the arena."
"I respect Kazumi for not backing down!" a cadet expressed, admiration in their voice.
"Yeah," another cadet agreed, "she's showing real determination out there. And here, some hypocrites tried to undermine her work."
As Thant Zin settled back into his seat, he couldn't help but feel annoyed at many cadets who had spoiled his excitement.
He thought to himself, 'What a bunch of lowly bastards. You better shut your mouths shut if you're weak.'
His attention returned to the ongoing battle, and with each passing moment, his anticipation swelled. He eagerly awaited the moment when Azrael would face him in combat.
His curiosity piqued about how the battle between them would unfold.
Back on the battered battle podium, after enduring relentless attacks from Azrael, Kazumi's body finally surrendered.
Kazumi's legs crumple beneath her, rendering her unable to stand or defend herself any further. She lay there, her spirit unbroken, but her body utterly defeated.
The audience and the watching instructors were left in stunned silence as Azrael delivered the final attack. In one last, brutal motion, Azrael swung the staff downward, targeting the Kazumi's midsection.
The staff connected with a resounding thud, driving the air from her lungs, her body wracked with pain, until finally, she succumbed to unconsciousness.
The battle was over, and Azrael stood there and didn't immediately go, he looked at Kazumi's body laying unconsciously on the ground.
She had displayed unwavering defense and determination throughout the battle, earning Azrael's respect.
Then a wash of blue particles enveloped both combatants and teleported them back to the side of the battle podium.
Kazumi's eyes snapped open, and she gasped for breath as she vividly recalled the last moments of their intense battle.
She gazed at her body and saw that it was fully healed. Every ounce of pain, the loss of her left arm, everything had been miraculously restored to its original state.
She looked downward, gritting her teeth as the harsh reality of her defeat washed over her. She was so close to reaching the top 50, but life had shown her a cruel twist of fate.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and a single teardrop trickled down her cheek. She tried to wipe it away as she cried in silence.
Meanwhile, Azrael had already departed the battle podium, his silhouette disappearing down the hallway, leaving the echoes of their battle behind.
Thant Zin, in his seat, received a notification from his bracelet. It was his turn to fight now. He descended from the spectator stands and made his way towards the battle podium.
As Thant Zin made his way down from the spectator stands, he crossed paths with Azrael in the hallway.
"Wait for me," Thant Zin said, as they passed each other.
Azrael, however, ignored him and continued on his way without a word.
Azrael returned to his seat next to Theo and Luna. Theo looked at his childhood friend with a hint of hesitation in his eyes and asked, "Is all of that necessary, Akki?"
Azrael didn't offer much of a reply, simply stating, "She's safe."
Hearing this, Theo didn't press the matter further. Doesn't know how to respond, while Luna remained silent, unsure of what to do.
Feeling the awkward atmosphere, Azrael added, "In life and death situations, she can't expect her enemy to go easy on her." he turned his head toward his childhood friends and continued, "And both of you too should always be prepared to face such opponents as well."
Hearing that, they began to understand his perspective a bit better, but the coldness of his actions still made them uneasy.
"You have a point," Theo conceded, attempting to accept it. Luna also tried to understand his point.
As the group of friends turned their attention back to the battle podium, they saw that Thant Zin had already emerged victorious in his fight, further advancing in the competition.
After Thant Zin's victory, several more battles took place, and many cadets with elite abilities advanced to the next stage. After a series of fights, the competition reached the top 50 stages, with eliminated cadets guaranteed a place in the elite class.
Among those who advanced were the Kim siblings, Hyunwoo and Yerin, as well as Leo. However, for the audience, none of these battles could match the memorable impact of Azrael's previous fight, which still lingered in their minds.
Now, Azrael's bracelet gave a notification, indicating that it was his turn to face Thant Zin. Azrael descended from the spectator stands, making his way to the battle podium.
The crowd began to murmur with excitement as they realized it was a rematch between Azrael and Thant Zin.
Almost everyone in the academy had watched the admission test video, and they were aware of the rivalry between the two formidable cadets.
Thant Zin had yet to face a serious challenge in the competition, and considering Azrael's previous battle, expectations ran high.
"I can't wait to see Azrael against Thant Zin. This will be a real battle!"
"Oh, it's going to be epic. Let's see who comes out on top."
Thant Zin was already standing on the stage, ready for the fight, while Azrael remained on the outside of the podium. The judge in the center of the podium signaled for Azrael to enter. However, just before Azrael stepped onto the podium, he raised his hand and announced, "I surrender."